Solar power Report
There are three ways that energy is produced from sunlight.
Solar cells convert sunlight directly into energy. These photovoltaic panels are currently very expensive.
Solar water heating uses the sun to heat water in rooftop glass panels. Water is pumped through pipes in the panels which are coloured black to keep the heat. In winter, the water has to be drained from the system to stop the panels from freezing.
Solar furnaces use large mirrors to focus the sun’s energy onto a small area, where it can produce very high temperatures. Solar power is clean and a renewable energy resource, but supply is not always reliable as it is available only during the hours of daylight. This means energy needs to be stored for use when it is not available.